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“It had nothing to do with that - he had no idea it was his brother. This was simply because he had been chased with a knife.”

Mr Burke also said it was “notable” the teen wasn’t charged with criminal damage, saying: “Had he damaged the windows and fence, police would have charged him with criminal damage.

“A lot of the problem is in regard to his thinking skills. He doesn’t seem to properly contemplate his actions.

“He didn’t think or contemplate how him taking a machete out would escalate matters. He thought it would stop a guy with a knife coming at him again.

“It’s a very serious matter but it’s a case of not thinking properly rather than going out to hurt someone.”

Sentencing the youth to a 12 month referral order, presiding magistrate Alan Medd told him: “If you were 18 and had committed this offence, normally a substantial custodial sentence would be passed today.

“However you are 17, you have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and we have taken into account the circumstances surrounding this offence.”